3 UNIFIL Peacekeepers Injured in Explosion in Southern Lebanon

Three United Nations peacekeepers were wounded in an explosion near the village of Yarine in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to the force’s spokesperson, Andrea Tenenti.  

Tenenti, without elaborating on the source of the explosion, said that the peacekeepers were patrolling the area in a clearly marked UN vehicle at the time of the incident but were only “lightly injured” and returned safely to their base.  

“We are investigating the incident. We are strongly reminding all parties and actors of their responsibility to avoid harm to peacekeepers and civilians.”  

First established in 1978, the United Nations Interim Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) assists the Lebanese Army in maintaining peace along the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon, following Israel’s withdrawal from the country in 2000. 

Approximately 10,000 peacekeepers from nearly 50 nations make up the force. 

The UN-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah enhanced UNIFIL’s mandate to include ensuring that no armed groups resumed operations south of the Litani River.  

The Israeli government has harshly criticized UNIFIL for failing to uphold UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and allowing the powerful Iran-backed Shia militia to reassert near total control over the area. 

Two sides have traded near daily cross-border strikes in the ten months since war broke out in Gaza between Israel and Hezbollah-ally Hamas.